Dynamic geo-fence for drone

ABSTRACT

Technical solutions are described for configuring a dynamic geo-fence includes receiving a plurality of data samples. The method also includes selecting, from the plurality of data samples, a selected data sample as a threshold. The method also includes configuring a geo-fence for a geographic area based on the selected data sample. The method also includes adjusting an operational characteristic of a drone while the drone is in the geographic area, where the operational characteristic is adjusted based on a configuration of the drone and the geo-fence.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates to autonomous drones or unmanned aerialvehicles and more specifically, to dynamically restricting a fly zone ofa drone.

Autonomous drones, also referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)and remotely piloted aircraft (RPA), are expected to be ruled eligiblefor use by private and corporate entities subject to pending toregulations implemented by various aviation authorities such as, forexample, the Federal Aviation Admiration (FAA). Proposed uses for dronesinclude, but are not limited to, city ordinance enforcement, othergovernment functions, package delivery, and image capturing. Therefore,it is envisioned that users could purchase drones to achieve a certainset of needs or tasks such as delivering a payload from a warehouse to acustomer. However, use of drones has raised many privacy concerns sincethe drones can fly over private property capturing data such as images,audio, video, and other such data.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, a computer-implemented method forconfiguring a dynamic geo-fence includes receiving a plurality of datasamples. The computer-implemented method also includes selecting, fromthe plurality of data samples, a selected data sample as a threshold.The computer-implemented method also includes configuring a geo-fencefor a geographic area based on the selected data sample. Thecomputer-implemented method also includes adjusting an operationalcharacteristic of a drone while the drone is in the geographic area,where the operational characteristic is adjusted based on aconfiguration of the drone and the geo-fence.

According to another embodiment, a system for configuring dynamicgeo-fences includes a memory that stores a plurality of data samples.The system also includes a processor. The processor selects, from theplurality of data samples, a selected data sample as a threshold. Theprocessor also sets up a geo-fence for a geographic area based on theselected data sample. The processor also adjusts an operationalcharacteristic of a drone while the drone is in the geographic area,where the operational characteristic is adjusted based on aconfiguration of the drone and the geo-fence.

According to another embodiment, a computer program product forconfiguring dynamic geo-fences includes a computer readable storagemedium. The computer readable storage medium includes computerexecutable instructions to access a plurality of data samples. Thecomputer readable storage medium also includes computer executableinstructions to select, from the plurality of data samples, a selecteddata sample as a threshold. The computer readable storage medium alsoincludes computer executable instructions to setup a geo-fence for ageographic area based on the selected data sample. The computer readablestorage medium also includes computer executable instructions to adjustan operational characteristic of a drone while the drone is in thegeographic area, where the operational characteristic is adjusted basedon a configuration of the drone and the geo-fence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The examples described throughout the present document may be betterunderstood with reference to the following drawings and description. Thecomponents in the figures are not necessarily to scale. Moreover, in thefigures, like-referenced numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the different views.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example drone in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example controller in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example geo-fencing system in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example geo-fence in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example flowchart of using a geo-fence inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example geo-fenced area using multiple geo-fencesin accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example scenario of accessing multiple datasamples to configure a geo-fence in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example flowchart for configuring a geo-fence inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example scenario with multiple geo-fences inaccordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are technical solutions for configuring a geo-fence tolimit actions and impacts of a drone. In an example, an entity, such asa government agency, a property owner, a drone manufacturer, or anyother entity limits an action or capability of a drone based on one ormore geo-fences. Each geo-fence may limit a specific action or actionsby the drone. The geo-fence may be static, such as based on regulationsof a community, a county, a city, a state, or any other regulations.Alternatively or in addition, the geo-fence may be configureddynamically based on attributes and capabilities of the drone. A usermay enable or change the geo-fence dynamically in real-time.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an embodiment is shown of an autonomous drone20 or unmanned aerial vehicle. As used herein, the term “drone” refersto an aerial vehicle capable to operating autonomously from a humanoperator to perform a predetermined function, such as deliver a payloador package for example. The drone 20 includes a fuselage 22 thatsupports at least one thrust device 24. In an embodiment, the drone 20includes a plurality of thrust devices 24A, 24B, such as four thrustdevices arranged about the periphery of the fuselage 22. In anembodiment, the thrust devices 24 include a propeller member thatrotates to produce thrust. The thrust devices 24 may be configurable toprovide both lift (vertical thrust) and lateral thrust (horizontalthrust). The vertical and horizontal components of the thrust allow thechanging of the altitude, lateral movement and orientation (attitude) ofthe drone 20.

In the exemplary embodiment, the fuselage 22 and thrust devices 24 aresized and configured to carry a payload 26 or package, the payload 26being releasably coupled to the fuselage 22 by a first tether 28. Aswill be discussed in more detail herein, the payload 26 may also becoupled to a second tether 30. The second tether 30 is coupled on oneend to the payload 26 and on an opposite end 32 to a transfer member 34.In the exemplary embodiment, the transfer member 34 is a transfer armthat extends from a side of the fuselage 22. In an embodiment, thetransfer arm may be an expandable or extendable member that may beextended or retracted for the payload transfer process. The expandabletransfer arm may be actuated by hydraulic, pneumatic, electromechanical(motor with a power screw) or with magnetic (solenoid or linearactuator) assemblies.

In an embodiment, the end 32 is movably or slidably coupled to thetransfer member 34 to allow the end 32 to move from the transfer member34 to another transfer member on another drone or a stationary dockingstation. In an embodiment, the movement of the end 32 is under theinfluence of gravity. In an embodiment, the transfer member 34 includesa coupling device 36. The coupling device 36 may couple data captureequipment 55, such as an image capture equipment, a video captureequipment, an audio capture equipment, a depth capture equipment, or anyother type of data capture equipment.

The drone 20 includes a controller 38 having a processing circuit. Thecontroller 38 may include processors that are responsive to operationcontrol methods embodied in application code such as those shown inFIGS. 14-15. These methods are embodied in computer instructions writtento be executed by the processor, such as in the form of software. Thecontroller 38 is coupled to transmit and receive signals from the thrustdevices 24, the transfer member 34 and the coupling device 36 todetermine and change their operational states (for example, extendtransfer member 34, change polarity of coupling device 36, adjust liftfrom thrust devices 24). The controller 38 may further be coupled to oneor more sensor devices that enable to the controller to determine theposition, orientation and altitude of the drone 20. In an embodiment,these sensors may include an altimeter 40, a gyroscope or accelerometers42 or a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver 44.

FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a controller 38 for use inimplementing a system or method according to some embodiments. Thesystems and methods described herein may be implemented in hardware,software (for example, firmware), or a combination thereof. In someembodiments, the methods described may be implemented, at least in part,in hardware and may be part of the microprocessor of a special orgeneral-purpose controller 38, such as a personal computer, workstation,minicomputer, or mainframe computer.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the controller 38 includes aprocessor 105, a memory 110 coupled to a memory controller 115, and oneor more input devices 145 and/or output devices 140, such as peripheralor control devices, that are communicatively coupled via a local I/Ocontroller 135. These devices 140 and 145 may include, for example,battery sensors, position sensors (altimeter 40, accelerometer 42, GPS44), indicator/identification lights and the like. Input devices such asa conventional keyboard 150 and mouse 155 may be coupled to the I/Ocontroller 135 when the drone is docked to allow personnel to service orinput information. The I/O controller 135 may be, for example, one ormore buses or other wired or wireless connections, as are known in theart. The I/O controller 135 may have additional elements, which areomitted for simplicity, such as controllers, buffers (caches), drivers,repeaters, and receivers, to enable communications.

The I/O devices 140, 145 may further include devices that communicateboth inputs and outputs, for instance disk and tape storage, a networkinterface card (NIC) or modulator/demodulator (for accessing otherfiles, devices, systems, or a network), a radio frequency (RF) or othertransceiver, a telephonic interface, a bridge, a router, and the like.

The processor 105 is a hardware device for executing hardwareinstructions or software, particularly those stored in memory 110. Theprocessor 105 may be a custom made or commercially available processor,a central processing unit (CPU), an auxiliary processor among severalprocessors associated with the controller 38, a semiconductor basedmicroprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip set), amacroprocessor, or other device for executing instructions. Theprocessor 105 includes a cache 170, which may include, but is notlimited to, an instruction cache to speed up executable instructionfetch, a data cache to speed up data fetch and store, and a translationlookaside buffer (TLB) used to speed up virtual-to-physical addresstranslation for both executable instructions and data. The cache 170 maybe organized as a hierarchy of more cache levels (L1, L2, and so on.).

The memory 110 may include one or combinations of volatile memoryelements (for example, random access memory, RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM,SDRAM) and nonvolatile memory elements (for example, ROM, erasableprogrammable read only memory (EPROM), electronically erasableprogrammable read only memory (EEPROM), programmable read only memory(PROM), tape, compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), disk, diskette,cartridge, cassette or the like). Moreover, the memory 110 mayincorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, or other types of storagemedia. Note that the memory 110 may have a distributed architecture,where various components are situated remote from one another but may beaccessed by the processor 105.

The instructions in memory 110 may include one or more separateprograms, each of which comprises an ordered listing of executableinstructions for implementing logical functions. In the example of FIG.2, the instructions in the memory 110 include a suitable operatingsystem (OS) 111. The operating system 111 essentially may control theexecution of other computer programs and provides scheduling,input-output control, file and data management, memory management, andcommunication control and related services.

Additional data, including, for example, instructions for the processor105 or other retrievable information, may be stored in storage 120,which may be a storage device such as a hard disk drive or solid statedrive. The stored instructions in memory 110 or in storage 120 mayinclude those enabling the processor to execute one or more aspects ofthe systems and methods of this disclosure.

The controller 38 may further include a display controller 125 coupledto a user interface or display 130. In some embodiments, the display 130may be an LCD screen. In other embodiments, the display 130 may includea plurality of LED status lights. In some embodiments, the controller 38may further include a network interface 160 for coupling to a network165. The network 165 may be an IP-based network for communicationbetween the controller 38 and an external server, client and the likevia a broadband connection. In an embodiment, the network 165 may be asatellite network. The network 165 transmits and receives data betweenthe controller 38 and external systems. In an embodiment, the externalsystem may be another aerial drone or a drone docking system, whereinthe transmitting and receiving of data allows the controller 38 toidentify the other drone or docking system and determine when thepayload is to be transferred to the other drone. In some embodiments,the network 165 may be a managed IP network administered by a serviceprovider. The network 165 may be implemented in a wireless fashion, forexample, using wireless protocols and technologies, such as WiFi, WiMax,satellite, or any other. The network 165 may also be a packet-switchednetwork such as a local area network, wide area network, metropolitanarea network, the Internet, or other similar type of networkenvironment. The network 165 may be a fixed wireless network, a wirelesslocal area network (LAN), a wireless wide area network (WAN) a personalarea network (PAN), a virtual private network (VPN), intranet or othersuitable network system and may include equipment for receiving andtransmitting signals.

Systems and methods according to this disclosure may be embodied, inwhole or in part, in computer program products or in controller 38, suchas that illustrated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example geo-fencing system 300. FIG. 4 illustratesa geo-fence 405 associated with a geo-fenced area 410. The geo-fence 405restricts the drone 20 within the geo-fenced area 410. Alternatively orin addition, the geo-fence 405 restricts the drone 20 to stay on oneside of the geo-fence 405. The geo-fence 405 excludes an object fromgoing “inside” or restricts the object to stay “inside.” The geo-fencingsystem 300 may configure the geo-fence 405. In an example, thegeo-fencing system 300 sends, for storage, the geo-fence 405 to ageo-fencing repository 390. The drone 20 accesses the geo-fencingrepository 390 to identify the geo-fence 405 associated with thegeo-fenced area 410. The geo-fenced area 410 may be a private propertyor a public property. For example, the geo-fenced area 410 may beidentified by a postal address, a combination of latitude and longitudevalues, a global positioning satellite location identifier, or any otheridentifier. The geo-fenced area 410 may be a boundary of a house, a poolwithin the boundary of the house, a park, a museum, or any othergeographic area.

The geo-fencing repository 390 may be a database accessible by the drone20 via the network 165. For example, the drone 20 may download thegeo-fence 405 stored in the geo-fencing repository 390 before takingflight. Alternatively or in addition, the drone 20 may access thegeo-fence 405 from the geo-fencing repository 390 during flight. Forexample, as the drone 20 approaches the geographic area that isrepresented by the geo-fenced area 410, the drone 20 is notified of thecorresponding geo-fence 405.

A user of the geo-fencing system 300 configures the geo-fence 405 torestrict the drone 20 within the geo-fenced area 410. For example, theuser may be owner of the geo-fenced area 410, a resident of thegeo-fenced area, a government agency, a drone manufacturer, a droneowner, or any other user. The government agency may be a flightadministrative agency, a city council, a county council, or any othergovernment agency. The user may configure the geo-fence 405 to imposerestrictions that are compliant with regulations, such as thoseapplicable in the geo-fenced area 410. In an example, the geo-fencingsystem 300 or the geo-fencing repository 390 may include limits imposedby local, state, and federal laws related to geo-fencing the drone 20.For example, if current regulations state that the drone 20 isrestricted to fly between 200 and 400 feet, the geo-fencing system 300prevents a user from configuring the geo-fence 405 to specify that thedrone 20 is restricted from flying below 500 feet. Thus, the geo-fencingsystem 300 facilitates the user to configure the geo-fence 405 withinthe restrictions of the regulations.

Further, the geo-fencing system 300 facilitates the user to define thegeo-fenced area 410 as a specific area within a property. Further, thegeo-fence 405 may vary the restrictions/permissions depending on thetime of day or the specific location within the geo-fenced area 410. Thegeo-fencing system 300 saves the geo-fence thus configured into thegeo-fencing repository 390 for access by the drone 20.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of an example operation of the drone 20.The controller 38 is continuously monitoring the geographical locationof the drone 20, as shown at block 505. The controller 38 determines ifthe current location of the drone 20 is associated with a geo-fence, asshown at block 510. The controller 38 may access the geo-fencingrepository 390 during the flight or alternatively, may have downloadedthe contents of the geo-fencing repository 390 prior to taking flight.If the current location is not associated with a geo-fence, the dronecontinues the flight without any changes, and as previously planned, asshown at blocks 520 and 540. Else, if the controller 38 identifies thegeo-fence 405 corresponding to the geo-fenced area 410, based on thegeo-fencing repository 390, the controller 38 adjusts the operation ofthe drone 20, as shown at block 530. The adjustment includes adjustingan operational characteristic of the drone 20, such as a setting of theimage capture equipment, a setting of the audio capture equipment, asetting associated with a noise level, or a setting associated with aflight course and/or height of the drone 20. The adjustment may includeadjusting one or more of a course of the drone, a height of the drone, adata capture attribute of the drone, or a noise level of the drone,among other things, as shown at blocks 532, 534, 536, and 538respectively. The drone continues the flight after the adjustment(s), asshown at block 540.

Adjusting the course of the drone 20 may include not entering andcircumventing the geo-fenced area 410. In another example, adjusting thecourse may also include returning to the geo-fenced area 410 at a latertime according to the scheduled times associated with the geo-fence 405.Adjusting the height of the drone 20 includes flying the drone 20 withina range prescribed by the geo-fence 405.

Adjusting the data capture attribute of the drone 20 includes changingquality-setting attributes of data capture equipment on the drone 20 Thecontroller 38 may adjust settings of one or more of the image captureand the audio capture equipment of the drone 20. For example, thegeo-fence 405 restricts drones based on their respective image captureranges or audio capture ranges. For example, the geo-fence 405 specifiesa predetermined data capture quality level. For example, a predeterminedimage quality level may identify a predetermined contrast level, apredetermined sharpness level, or any other image attribute or acombination thereof to determine a quality level of an image captured bythe drones. In an example, the predetermined image quality levelspecified by the geo-fence 405 may prescribe a number of mega-pixels, amaximum zoom-level, and other such attributes of the image captureequipment of the drone 20. If the drone 20 is equipped with an imagecapture device capable of an image quality level above the predeterminedlevel, the controller 38 adjusts the operation of the drone to complywith the geo-fence 405. Thus, the geo-fence 405 is dynamic. The drone 20adjusts the operation according to the capabilities of the drone 20 inresponse to determining the specifications of the geo-fence 405.

For example, consider that the drone 20 is equipped with a camera thatis capable of capturing an image of 25 mega-pixels from up to 200 feetaway, and if the geo-fence 405 specifies a maximum image quality of 2mega-pixels from 200 feet away. The drone 20, upon reaching thegeo-fenced area 410, adjusts operation to comply with the geo-fence 405by either setting the image capture quality to two mega-pixels andflying at 200 feet, or by flying at a much higher distance, such as 2000feet and capturing thirteen mega-pixel images, or by circumventing thegeo-fenced area 410. Thus, the geo-fence 405 dynamically restricts thedrone 20. Another drone, equipped with a camera that captures onemega-pixel pictures, upon reaching the geo-fenced area, does not adjustthe operation, since the other drone's capabilities are within thelimits prescribed by the geo-fence 405 in this example. Of course, otherexamples may have other values for prescribed limits and capabilities.Thus, the geo-fence 405 may cause an adjustment of the operationalcharacteristic of the image capture equipment, such as a zoom-level, amega-pixel level, a shutter speed, an aperture size, a sensitivity level(such as ISO), a white-balance, a contrast-level, or any other settingof the image capture equipment.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example scenario in which drones with differentcapabilities capture a plurality of data samples 710. For example,consider that a first drone is equipped with data capture equipment,such as a camera that is of a higher quality than a camera of a seconddrone. As illustrated, the first drone is capable of capturing an imageof a predetermined quality level from 200 feet away, and the seconddrone is capable of capturing an image of the same predetermined qualitylevel from 150 feet away (that is closer than the first drone). In thisscenario, if the image quality level of the third image is used as thepredetermined quality level, the geo-fence 405 restricts the first droneto fly at least 200 feet high (away) from the geo-fenced area 410, andthe geo-fence 405 restricts the second drone to fly at least 150 feethigh (away) from the geo-fenced area 410. Thus, the geo-fence 405dynamically restricts different drones.

In another example, the geo-fence 405 may specify a predetermined audioquality level that affects the operation of the drone 20 dynamically.For example, the geo-fence 405 may specify audio quality parameters suchas decibel level, clarity level, bass, treble, signal-to-noise-ratio, orany other parameter or a combination thereof to identify thepredetermined audio quality level. For example, if the drone 20 isequipped with the audio capture equipment that is capable of capturingaudio data of the predetermined quality level from up to 200 feet away,then the geo-fence 405 restricts the drone 20 to fly at least 200 feethigh (away) from the geo-fenced area 410. The drone 20, upon reachingthe geo-fenced area 410, adjusts the operation according to thepredetermined audio quality level specified by the geo-fence 405. Forexample, the drone may adjust the audio capture settings, fly at adifferent height, or circumvent the geo-fenced area 410 altogether.Thus, the geo-fence 405 may cause an adjustment of the operationalcharacteristic of the audio capture equipment, such as a bit-rate, afrequency, a mode (mono/stereo), format, or any other setting of theaudio capture equipment.

In yet another example, the geo-fence 405 may specify a predeterminedlimit on a noise level emitted by the drone. The drone 20, in responsemay adjust the height of flight, course of flight, and/or noise level ofthe drone 20. Adjusting the noise level of the drone 20 may includereducing (or increasing) noise emission level of the drone 20 accordingto a limit prescribed by the geo-fence 405. For example, the controller38 may cause the drone to move slower (or faster) to reduce the noiselevel. Alternatively or in addition, the controller 38 may change aspeed of rotors of the drone 20 to adjust the noise level. For example,if the drone 20 emits a noise that is above the predetermined threshold,such as during flight, the geo-fence 405 restricts the drone 20 frombeing within a predetermined distance of the geo-fenced area 410. Forexample, if the drone 20 emits fifty decibels of noise above the limitprescribed by the geo-fence 405, the drone 20 is restricted to fly atleast two-hundred feet above the geo-fenced area 410. If another droneemits noise above the limit, the other drone may be restricted to fly,say, at least five hundred feet above the geo-fenced area 410. Otherpredetermined noise levels and predetermined distances may be used inother examples. Thus, the geo-fence 405 may cause an adjustment of theoperational characteristic of the drone 20 such as rotor speed, motorspeed, or any other settings that change the noise level of the drone20. Further, the geo-fence 405 may cause an adjustment of theoperational characteristic of the drone 20 such as flying height or anyother setting of that affects a flight-course of the drone 20.

In yet another example, the geo-fence 405 may specify a combination ofthe image capture quality, audio capture quality, and noise emissionlevel of the drone 20. Different drones may adjust their respectiveoperation differently upon reaching the geo-fenced area 410, asdescribed herein. Thus, the geo-fence 405 provides a dynamic geo-fencefor the drone 20.

The geo-fencing system 300 facilitates a user to update the geo-fencingrepository 390 by configuring the geo-fence 405 in the geo-fencingrepository 390. By configuring, the geo-fencing system 300 may eithercreate the geo-fence 405 in the geo-fencing repository 390, or changesettings of the geo-fence 405 that already exists in the geo-fencingrepository 390.

The geo-fencing system 300 may be a communication apparatus, such as acomputer. For example, the geo-fencing system 300 may be a desktopcomputer, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a phone, such as asmartphone, a server computer, or any other device that communicates viathe network 165. The geo-fencing system 300 includes hardware, such aselectronic circuitry. The geo-fencing system 300, as illustrated in FIG.3, may include a processor 305, memory 310 coupled to a memorycontroller 315, and one or more input devices 345 and/or output devices340, such as peripheral or control devices, that are communicativelycoupled via a local I/O controller 335.

Input devices such as a conventional keyboard 350 and mouse 355 may becoupled to the I/O controller 335. The I/O controller 335 may be, forexample, one or more buses or other wired or wireless connections, asare known in the art. The I/O controller 335 may have additionalelements, which are omitted for simplicity, such as controllers, buffers(caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers, to enable communications.

The I/O devices 340, 345 may further include devices that communicateboth inputs and outputs, for instance disk and tape storage, a networkinterface card (NIC) or modulator/demodulator (for accessing otherfiles, devices, systems, or a network), a radio frequency (RF) or othertransceiver, a telephonic interface, a bridge, a router, and the like.

The processor 305 is a hardware device for executing hardwareinstructions or software, particularly those stored in memory 310. Theprocessor 305 may be a custom made or commercially available processor,a central processing unit (CPU), an auxiliary processor among severalprocessors associated with the system 300, a semiconductor basedmicroprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip set), amacroprocessor, or other device for executing instructions. Theprocessor 305 includes a cache 307, which may include, but is notlimited to, an instruction cache to speed up executable instructionfetch, a data cache to speed up data fetch and store, and a translationlookaside buffer (TLB) used to speed up virtual-to-physical addresstranslation for both executable instructions and data. The cache 307 maybe organized as a hierarchy of more cache levels (L1, L2, and so on.).

The memory 310 may include one or combinations of volatile memoryelements (for example, random access memory, RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM,SDRAM) and nonvolatile memory elements (for example, ROM, erasableprogrammable read only memory (EPROM), electronically erasableprogrammable read only memory (EEPROM), programmable read only memory(PROM), tape, compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), disk, diskette,cartridge, cassette or the like). Moreover, the memory 310 mayincorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, or other types of storagemedia. Note that the memory 310 may have a distributed architecture,where various components are situated remote from one another but may beaccessed by the processor 305.

The instructions in memory 310 may include one or more separateprograms, each of which comprises an ordered listing of executableinstructions for implementing logical functions. In the example of FIG.3, the instructions in the memory 310 include a suitable operatingsystem (OS) 311. The operating system 311 may control the execution ofother computer programs and provides scheduling, input-output control,file and data management, memory management, and communication controland related services.

Additional data, including, for example, instructions for the processor305 or other retrievable information, may be stored in storage 320,which may be a storage device such as a hard disk drive or solid statedrive. The stored instructions in memory 310 or in storage 320 mayinclude those enabling the processor to execute one or more aspects ofthe systems and methods of this disclosure.

The system 300 may further include a display controller 325 coupled to auser interface or display 330. In some embodiments, the display 330 maybe an LCD screen. In other embodiments, the display 130 may include aplurality of LED status lights. In some embodiments, the system 300 mayfurther include a network interface 360 for coupling to a network 165.The network 165 transmits and receives data between the system 300 andexternal systems, such as the geo-fencing repository 390. Alternativelyor in addition, the network 165 transmits and receives data between thesystem 300 and the drone 20.

In an example, the geo-fencing system 300 facilitates configuring thegeo-fence 405 to restrict air space access. For example, the geo-fence405 may restrict the ability of the drone 20 to fly within an area ofthe geo-fenced area 410. For example, the geo-fence 405 may specify thatthe drone 20 cannot fly above a house, but can fly over a barn in thegeo-fenced area 410. Alternatively or in addition, the geo-fence 405 mayspecify that the drone 20 cannot fly below a specific height within thegeo-fenced area 410. Alternatively or in addition, the geo-fence 405 mayspecify that the drone 20 cannot fly in the geo-fenced area 410 duringspecific times/days or fly below a certain height during specifictimes/days. Further, the geo-fence 405 may specify services available tothe drone 20 at the geo-fenced area 410, such as a charging station, asolar charging station, a landing area, and the times/days theseservices are available. The geo-fence 405 may further identify contactinformation for scheduling access to the services. In an example, thegeo-fence 405 may be configured to specify whether the drone 20 can landwithin the geo-fenced area 410 to make deliveries, and times/days whendeliveries are allowed. In another example, the geo-fence 405 limitslanding access to specific drones or allows access to all drones exceptfor those explicitly disallowed. Access may be further limited totimes/days by user. Alternatively or in addition, the geo-fenceidentifies an authorization for a different group that the drone 20belongs to. For example, the geo-fence authorizes a drone from a packagedelivery service such as, UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICES™, or FEDEX™ toland and deliver a package, and does not allow other drones, such as apersonal drone, to land. In yet another example, the geo-fence 405 mayspecify that the drone 20 request permission to land/deliver/fly-overthe geo-fenced area 410 such as via a phone message/text, an onlineinstant message, or any other communication system. In another example,the geo-fence indicates to the drone 20 an area where the drone 20cannot take video/photo. Alternatively or in addition, the geo-fenceidentifies an area where the drone 20 cannot capture audio. Thus, thegeo-fence 405 causes adjustment to an operation the drone 20.

In addition to the dynamic geo-fence 405, as described herein, inanother example, the geo-fencing system 300 facilitates configuringstatic geo-fences to restrict the drone 20 and further adjust theoperation of the drone 20. In an example, the geo-fencing system 300facilitates configuring the geo-fence 405 for the drone 20 with specificcapabilities. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the geo-fencingsystem 300 facilitates a user to configure separate geo-fences 405 and605 for the same geo-fenced area 410. The different geo-fences 405 and605 restrict drones with varied capabilities, such as the drones 20 and620, based on their respective capabilities. For example, the drone 620may be equipped with data capture equipment that captures data, such asimages or audio, of higher quality than the data capture equipment ofthe drone 20. Therefore, the geo-fence 605 may restrict the drone 620,with higher quality data capture capabilities from flying as low as thedrone 20 that has comparatively lower quality data capture capabilities.

For example, the geo-fences 405 and 605 restrict the drones 20 and 620respectively based on their respective image capture ranges. Forexample, consider the scenario of FIG. 7. As illustrated, the firstdrone is capable of capturing an image of a predetermined quality levelfrom 200 feet away, and the second drone is capable of capturing animage of the same predetermined quality level from 150 feet away (thatis, closer than the first drone). In this scenario, if the image qualitylevel of the third image is used as the predetermined quality level, thegeo-fence 405 restricts the first drone to fly at least 200 feet high(away) from the geo-fenced area 410, and the geo-fence 605 (a secondgeo-fence) restricts the second drone to fly at least 150 feet high(away) from the geo-fenced area 410. Thus, the geo-fences 405 and 605statically restrict different drones.

In another example, the geo-fencing system 300 configures the geo-fencesto restrict the drones 20 and 620 based on respective audio qualitylevels. In another example, the geo-fencing system 300 configures thegeo-fences 405 and 605 to restrict the drones 20 and 620 based onrespective noise-levels. Thus, the geo-fencing system 300 facilitatesconfiguring multiple geo-fences for the geo-fenced area 410 such thatdifferent drones with different capabilities are restricted according toa respective geo-fence.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of example logic to configure a geo-fenceusing the geo-fencing system 300. The geo-fencing system 300 facilitatesaccessing multiple data samples, such as multiple images or audiosamples, or any other captured data, as shown at block 805. In anexample, the data samples are received by the geo-fencing system 300.The data samples are all of different quality levels, such as thoseillustrated in FIG. 7. The user of the geo-fencing system selects one ofthe data samples as a threshold quality level associated with thegeo-fence, as shown at block 810. For example, consider that from theset of data samples illustrated in FIG. 7, the third data sample fromthe left is selected. Based on the selection, the geo-fencing system 300identifies the quality levels to be associated with the geo-fence, asshown at block 815. For example, the geo-fencing system 300 identifiesthat the selected data sample is an image captured at 3 mega-pixels witha 2× zoom-factor from 150 feet. The geo-fencing system 300 identifiesdifferent attributes in other examples.

The geo-fencing system 300 determines if a static or a dynamic geo-fenceis to be configured, as shown at block 820. In an example, thegeo-fencing system 300 may configure both, static and dynamicgeo-fences. In case a dynamic geo-fence is to be configured, thegeo-fencing system 300 creates or updates a geo-fence that prescribesthe identified quality level attributes as limits for any drone tocomply with in the geo-fenced area 410, as shown at block 825.Accordingly, any drone entering the geo-fenced area adjusts operation tocomply with the prescribed limits. Alternatively or in addition, if thegeo-fencing system 300 is configuring a static geo-fence, thegeo-fencing system 300 creates or updates one or more geo-fencesrespectively for drones with different capabilities, as shown at block827. For example, the geo-fencing system 300 configures a geo-fence withthe identified quality level attributes as prescribed limits for aspecific drone. For example, based on the selection of the data samplein the scenario illustrated in FIG. 7, the geo-fence for a drone withcapabilities identical to drone-1 prescribes being at least 250 feetaway from the geo-fenced area. The geo-fence for a drone withcapabilities of drone-2 prescribes limits of at least 150 feet away fromthe geo-fenced area. The geo-fencing system 300 stores the configuredgeo-fence(s) into the geo-fencing repository for drones to access, asshown at block 830.

FIG. 9 illustrates multiple geo-fences configured using the geo-fencingsystem 300. As illustrated, the drone 20 experiences a combination ofstatic and dynamic geo-fences. For example, a geo-fenced area 900 mayinclude multiple geo-fenced areas, a geo-fenced area 910, a geo-fencedarea 920, and a geo-fenced area 930. The geo-fenced area 900 may be acommunity such as a city, a county, a sub-division, or any othercollection of geo-fenced areas. Each of the geo-fenced areas within thegeo-fenced area 900 may be a residence, a business, a factory, or anyother type of property. The geo-fenced area 900 may also include publicproperty, such as a public road. The geo-fenced area 900 may use ageo-fence 950. The geo-fence 950 may be a static geo-fence thatencompasses the multiple properties within the geo-fenced area 900. Inan example, a government agency, a property manager, or any other entityconfigures the static geo-fence 950 based on regulatory valuesapplicable to the geo-fenced area 900. The geo-fence 950 may prescribethreshold limits based on the regulatory values. In addition, thegovernment agency or any other entity may configure a dynamic geo-fence960 for the geo-fenced area 900. The dynamic geo-fence 960 may be basedon capabilities of the drone as described herein. As illustrated, thedynamic geo-fence 960 prescribes a different height for the drone to flyover the geo-fenced area 930 than the geo-fenced areas 910 and 920,whereas the static geo-fence 950 has the same prescribed height acrossall the geo-fenced areas 910, 920, and 930.

In addition or alternative to the geo-fences 950 and 960, eachgeo-fenced area 910, 920, and 930 within the geo-fence 950 may beseparately geo-fenced using static and/or dynamic geo-fences thatowners, residents, or other entities configure. For example, thegeo-fenced areas 910, 920, and 930 are associated with respectivegeo-fences 915, 925, and 935, and accordingly may prescribe varyinglimits. The geo-fence 915 may prescribe a different height than that inthe geo-fences 925 and 935. For example, the geo-fence 915 may prescribea height more than that in the geo-fences 925 and 935 as a consequenceof a taller building in the corresponding geo-fenced area 910. Thegeo-fence 925 may restrict the drone 20 from entering the geo-fencedarea 920. The geo-fence 935 may restrict data capture different morethan the data capture restrictions in the geo-fences 925 and 915 sincethe geo-fenced area 930 includes a swimming pool. Other variations inthe prescribed limits are possible in other examples.

Thus, technical solutions described herein facilitate configuring one ormore geo-fences for a geographical location. The geo-fences may bestatic or dynamic. A static geo-fence restricts a drone from entering ageo-fenced area in response to the drone not complying with a prescribedlimit of the static geo-fence. A dynamic geo-fence restricts a drone bymitigating a capability of the drone according to the prescribed limitin the dynamic geo-fence. Accordingly, in case of a dynamic geo-fence,the drone may adjust its operation to overcome the prescribed limit.Alternatively, the technical solutions facilitate configuring more thanone static geo-fence to accommodate drones of varying capabilities. Thegeo-fences are configured based on a representative data sample that isselected from multiple data samples by identifying the quality levelattributes of the representative data sample and using the identifiedattributes to configure the geo-fences.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (for example, lightpulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signalstransmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application, or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer implemented method for configuring adynamic geo-fence, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of datasamples; selecting, from the plurality of data samples, a selected datasample as a threshold; configuring a geo-fence for a geographic areabased on the selected data sample; and adjusting an operationalcharacteristic of a drone while the drone is in the geographic area,wherein the operational characteristic is adjusted based on aconfiguration of the drone and the geo-fence.
 2. The computerimplemented method of claim 1, wherein the drone is a first drone, andwherein the geo-fence adjusts the operational characteristic of thefirst drone to a first value, and the operational characteristic of asecond drone to a second value, the first value being distinct from thesecond value.
 3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein theoperational characteristic is a setting of an image capture equipment ofthe drone.
 4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein theoperational characteristic is a setting of an audio capture equipment ofthe drone.
 5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein theoperational characteristic adjusts a noise level of the drone.
 6. Thecomputer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the operationalcharacteristic adjusts a flying height of the drone.
 7. The computerimplemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data samplescomprises a plurality of images captured by an image capture equipmentof the drone from respective distances, and the method furthercomprises: determining image attributes of the selected data sample fromthe plurality of images; identifying a current value of the operationalcharacteristic of the drone; determining a second value of theoperational characteristic, wherein image attributes of an imagecaptured by the image capture equipment using the second value of theoperational characteristic are within a predetermined threshold of theimage attributes of the selected data sample.
 8. The computerimplemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data samplescomprises a plurality of audio samples captured by an audio captureequipment of the drone from respective distances, and the method furthercomprises: determining audio attributes of the selected data sample fromthe plurality of audio samples; identifying a current value of theoperational characteristic of the drone; identifying a second value ofthe operational characteristic, wherein audio attributes of an audiocaptured by the audio capture equipment using the second value arewithin a predetermined threshold of the audio attributes of the selecteddata sample.
 9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, furthercomprising: configuring a first geo-fence for the geographic area basedon the selected data sample, the first geo-fence corresponding to afirst drone; and configuring a second geo-fence for the geographic areabased on the selected data sample, the second geo-fence corresponding toa second drone.
 10. A system for configuring dynamic geo-fences, thesystem comprising: a memory configured to store a plurality of datasamples; a processor configured to: select, from the plurality of datasamples, a selected data sample as a threshold; configure a geo-fencefor a geographic area based on the selected data sample; and adjust anoperational characteristic of a drone while the drone is in thegeographic area, wherein the operational characteristic is adjustedbased on a configuration of the drone and the geo-fence.
 11. The systemof claim 10, wherein the drone is a first drone, and wherein thegeo-fence adjusts the operational characteristic of the first drone to afirst value, and the operational characteristic of a second drone to asecond value, the first value being distinct from the second value. 12.The system of claim 10, wherein the operational characteristic is asetting of an image capture equipment of the drone.
 13. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the operational characteristic is a setting of anaudio capture equipment of the drone.
 14. The system of claim 10,wherein the operational characteristic adjusts a noise level of thedrone.
 15. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of data samplescomprises a plurality of images captured by an image capture equipmentfrom respective distances.
 16. The system of claim 12, wherein theprocessor is configured to: determine a first set of attributes of theselected data sample from the plurality of data samples; identifying acurrent value of the operational characteristic of the drone;identifying a second value of the operational characteristic, wherein asecond set of attributes of a data sample captured by the drone usingthe second value are within a predetermined threshold of the first setof attributes of the selected data sample.
 17. A computer programproduct for configuring dynamic geo-fences, the computer productcomprising a computer readable storage medium, the computer readablestorage medium comprising computer executable instructions, wherein thecomputer readable storage medium comprises instructions to: access aplurality of data samples; select, from the plurality of data samples, aselected data sample as a threshold; configure a geo-fence for ageographic area based on the selected data sample; and adjust anoperational characteristic of a drone while the drone is in thegeographic area, wherein the operational characteristic is adjustedbased on a configuration of the drone and the geo-fence.
 18. Thecomputer program product of claim 17, wherein the drone is a firstdrone, and wherein the geo-fence adjusts the operational characteristicof the first drone to a first value, and the operational characteristicof a second drone to a second value, the first value being distinct fromthe second value.
 19. The computer program product of claim 17, whereinthe operational characteristic is one of a setting of an image captureequipment, a setting of an audio capture equipment, a setting associatedwith a noise level, and a setting associated with a flying height of thedrone.
 20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein thecomputer readable storage medium further comprises instructions to:determine a first set of attributes of the selected data sample from theplurality of data samples; identify a current value of the operationalcharacteristic of the drone; and identify a second value of theoperational characteristic, wherein a second set of attributes of a datasample captured by the drone using the second value are within apredetermined threshold of the first set of attributes of the selecteddata sample.